This study session of the Grand Island City Council focused on two budget presentations for fiscal year 2026-2027: the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation (GIAEDC) and the Heartland Shooting Park/Hornady. No formal votes were taken; council members provided comments and asked clarifying questions.
Mary Burley presented the FY 2026-2027 budget request for administering the LB 840 economic development program. The total request is $411,339, a 1.57% increase ($6,339) from 2026. This covers operations including salaries, lease, marketing, and regional memberships. The annual LB 840 allocation from the city is $950,000, which also funds project grants; the remainder after operations ($538,661) is available for eligible projects.
Key updates on LB 840 projects:
Housing initiatives:
Councilmember Shearer expressed strong support for the program, highlighting the Dramcode tool tie-in. Councilmember Nickerson appreciated the variety of projects and asked about business outreach (300 BRE meetings annually).
Tom Bush (park manager) and Neil Davies (Hornady marketing director) presented the FY 2027 capital improvement request.
2026 project updates:
2027 requests (total $534,912.98, less a $72,173 Midway USA grant, net city share $462,739.98):
Benefits: Enhanced safety, ability to host larger events (e.g., zone 5 skeet shoot, 4-H nationals with 768 kids from 42 states), increased tourism and local spending. Busy season: seven weeks requiring near-daily staffing.
Councilmember Brown asked about septic (new system needed) and dump station (currently using a contracted service with QR code). Councilmember Nickerson commended the park's improvement and asked about camper pad usage (full on event weekends). He questioned why the shower house was prioritized over more pads; Bush explained it would also serve tent campers and provide essential storm shelter. Councilmember Hasi noted that the $150,000 return from 2026 could reduce the net request to approximately $312,739.98.
We'll go ahead and call this meeting to order. Um, August 11, 2026. This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The City Council abides by the Open Meetings Act in conducting business. A copy of the Open Meeting Act is displayed in the back of this room as required by state law. Now please join me in the Pledges of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and justice for all. Now the uh clerk will perform roll call. Councilmember Shearer. Present. Councilmember Stelk. Present. Councilmember Connolly. Present. Councilmember Nickerson. Present. Councilmember Brown. Present. Council President O'Neill. Present. Councilmember Hasi. Present. And Councilmember Pollock. Present. Also present are Kerry Fist City Attorney, Chelsea Steinkey Finance Director, Pat Brown City Administrator, and Sonia Cisneros, Assistant City Clerk. Reserve time to speak. A sign up sheet was available in the lobby for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items. If you did not sign up to speak on agenda item, please come forward, state your name and the agenda item topic in which you'll be speaking on. None have come forward, so we shall proceed. Next up is Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation presentation with Mary Burley. Hey Mary. Hello, good evening. Mary Burley, I represent the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corporation and in front of you this evening to review and request for fiscal year 2026-2027 for administrating of Grand Island's LB 840 economic development program. These funds are held with the City of Grand Island until appropriate projects come to play, where you all approve those applications and eligible businesses doing eligible activities. So this is the cash balance as of today minus all of the active projects that we do have. You will see we do have a balance of $18,000. This is interest earned from April of 2026 when the last time I was in front of you presenting Case New Holland's LB 840 contract. So we do have a balance in there of $18,000. This is just a quick snapshot of those LB 840 projects that we have done in the very near recent past. Now Pioneer Equipment is not going to seek LB40, nor are they seeking taxing commitment financing. They were able to come to Grand Island because we had that shovel ready, plat of land and infrastructure ready to go. We were able to hit the easy button on pioneer equipment for them and their expansion. Again, this is a 20,000 square foot, so just a pinch smaller than Vermir High Plains, but again, they will not utilize any other public cash or tax incentive because we were able to use that incentive across the street. The YWCA continues their $6.4 million fundraising project for a much larger childcare facility. LBA 40 helped contribute to the early learning center and the after school program on that campus with $500,000. We just broke that ribbon cutting a few weeks ago, and they will increase their after school program by $45 children. They do provide before and after school transportation for the children that participate at the YWCA. Dramcode tool, they continue to add to their FTEs. They will add 10 new full-time equivalent employees by 2029. This increases their employment base to 68 in our city.